For several years, Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, has been in the market for a planter — specifically a corn planter she could call her own to use in plots. She focused her search on a used eight-row bar with liquid starter fertilizer and finally found a Kinze 3500 at an auction.
“There is nothing wrong with starting with an old toolbar, as long as it’s in good shape,” Bauer says. “The plan was to strip down the planter and rebuild with proven technologies. We sought out several Farm Journal Test Plot partners to help build the ultimate plot planter.”
From the onset, Bauer’s goal was to create picket fence stands and photocopied plants and ears. Picket fence stands are created by eliminating vibration in the seed transmission system, singulating seed at the meter, reducing seed tube bounce and minding planter speed, Bauer explains.
“One of the advantages to rebuilding an old planter is to eliminate many problems with traditional seed transmission systems, such as bearings, chains, cable drives and hex shafts, and move to an electric drive and meter system,” she says.
Precision Planting provided vSet 2 meters and a vDrive system, powered by a 20I20 Gen 3 monitor.
Photocopied plants and ears come from placing the seed in a uniform microenvironment allowing for even germination and emergence. That microenvironment is created by managing planting depth, down pressure and gauge wheel settings; closing and firming the trench; and planting on a uniform seedbed.
“Down pressure is difficult to get set right on a planter,” Bauer says. “The addition of Precision Planting’s DeltaForce hydraulic down-force cylinder with sensors for automated control helps ensure we run at the proper down pressure across the field.”
Cab-controlled row cleaners improve the ability to move residue and reduce issues with residue pinched in the seed trench. Martin-Till ACCR1360 fl oating row cleaners with Precision Planting CleanSweep cylinders help manage residue.
In addition to updated technology, Bauer used heavier-duty parallel arms, bolts and bushings; heavy-duty cast hub disk openers from GBGI; new guards for the WaveVision seed tubes; Copperhead Ag RK Products gauge wheel arm repair kits with new arms; and new spoke gauge wheels from Yetter Farm Equipment.
Roll over the yellow buttons below to get a closer look at the upgrades that were made.
Closing Wheel Swap
Because this planter is set up for closing wheel plots, Bauer used two quick-attach tail assemblies: The Tru Closer from Yetter with drag chains and a standard tail with the Copperhead Ag RK Products closing wheel ball bearing repair kit and Yetter’s interchanger. In future plots, Bauer plans to evaluate SI Distributing cast iron and Finger-Till closing wheels, Yetter 6200 Twister cast and poly closing wheels, Copperhead Ag Furrow Cruiser Complete and Precision Planting FurrowForce.
Don’t Forget the Nutrition
“The planting pass should also be a nutrition pass,” Bauer says. “The ability to apply fertilizer with the planter is critical to get corn off to a good start.”
Bauer worked with Precision Planting and Schaffert Manufacturing to add three liquid systems to the planter. A 2x2 placement adds nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc, which helps improve early plant growth and nutrition.
Farm Journal Test Plot research has found adding a “relay” system for starter fertilizer to the planter is beneficial. Bauer used Precision Planting‘s FurrowJet to apply 10-34-0 into the sidewalls of the seed trench to safely get quick nutrition to the plants before handing off to the 2x2 placement.
The FurrowJet also allows an in-furrow application, which Bauer set up with a Dosatron from Schaffert for direct injection. Electric pumps from Schaffert run the liquid systems for the FurrowJet, and a hydraulic drive from Precision Planting powers the 2x2 system. All liquid systems are equipped with vApply HD from Precision Planting to ensure uniform application.
Ask for Help
The idea of rebuilding an old planter with new technologies is an option for farmers as well. However, having good dealer support is critical for success. Missy Bauer partnered with PM Precision Ag, Charlotte, Mich.; Mavis Meter Max, Edgerton, Ohio; and Schlipf Precision Ag, Milford, Ind.
